THE mum of car fanatic Chad McVeigh, who died with two friends in a crash on Friday night, said his death has left a gaping hole in the hearts of his family.

Chad, 18, was Westbury born and bred but lived for a short while in Devizes until a few weeks before his death.

He and friends Nathan Cox and Jordan Taylor, both 20, and from Trowbridge, died when their silver Citroen Saxo hit a parked lorry in Quartermaster Road on the West Wiltshire Trading Estate in Westbury at about 10.30pm.

But Chad’s family did not find out for certain about his death until nearly 12 hours later when police officers came to their home in Oldfield Road, Westbury.

His sister Charley, 19, said: “I saw some posts on Facebook and I had a bad feeling about things.

“I went to check in his bedroom and he was not there. I then saw more messages on Facebook so by the time the police came we already pretty much knew he was dead.”

His mum Hayley, 39, this week spoke about her beloved but difficult to control son with deep affection.

Close to tears, she said: “He was a real mummy’s boy. He could be a nightmare but he always said sorry and could always get me to do things for him.”

Chad’s father Nick and other sisters Shania, 15, and Chantelle, 20, are also finding it difficult to come to terms with the fact that the loveable rogue who had hundreds of friends will not be coming home.

Charley said: “Chad couldn’t sit still. He used to come home and then go off again to meet his mates. He loved pasta and sausage rolls. Anything he could eat on the go.”

Mrs McVeigh is finding it even more difficult to cope with her son’s death as her brother Andrew Wheeler, 35, died in a similar accident with a lorry close to the trading estate in 2000.

She said: “It is like history repeating itself. Chad was very close to Andrew when he was a small boy.”

On the day Chad died he and his family had been upset about having to have their beloved bull mastiff dog Bigsi put to sleep as he was suffering from cancer.

Charley said: “Chad really loved the dog.”

His sisters remember him as passionate about cars from a young age and also a talented bike and motorbike rider.

Charley said: “He was a real petrol head. When he was younger he was fantastic doing stunts on his bike but he was always breaking bones.

"He had so many friends from all over the place including Trowbridge, Devizes and Salisbury. Everyone in Westbury knew Chad.”

He started his schooling at Westbury Infants and then studied with the On Track education service.

His mother was always convinced her son had ADHD or some form of autism as he found concentration so difficult but had never been able to get him diagnosed.

A letter for a doctor’s appointment to discuss his case arrived on Monday. Mrs McVeigh said: “It came too late to save him. I always worried something like this would happen.”

The family are organising a funeral at All Saints' Church in Westbury but the date is yet to be fixed.